Month: September 2025

Running a small business can feel like juggling endless priorities, but taking time to set clear goals is essential if you want your business to grow and remain sustainable. Here are five goals that every owner should consider.

1. Strengthen cash flow management
Cash is the lifeblood of any business. Aim to forecast your cash flow regularly, monitor debtor days, and build a buffer for unexpected costs. Even profitable businesses can run into trouble if they neglect cash flow.

2. Build customer loyalty
Repeat customers cost less to retain than new ones do to acquire. Set a goal to improve customer service, gather feedback, and introduce loyalty or referral schemes. Strong relationships are a foundation for long-term stability.

3. Embrace digital tools
From accounting software to customer management systems, technology can save time and cut errors. Make it a goal to identify areas of your business that could benefit from automation or more efficient systems.

4. Focus on compliance and risk management
Keeping up with tax, employment, and regulatory responsibilities avoids costly penalties. Set processes for filing returns on time, maintaining accurate records, and regularly reviewing insurance and legal protections.

5. Invest in yourself and your team
Your skills and wellbeing directly influence your business. Set goals around training, mentoring, or simply creating space to recharge. Encourage team development too,  motivated employees often generate new ideas and efficiencies.

By working towards these five goals, small business owners can balance immediate demands with longer-term progress. The key is to revisit and adjust them regularly, so they remain relevant as your business evolves.

During the State Visit by President Trump, the UK secured a record-breaking £150 billion of inward investment from US firms. The package is intended to boost jobs, support growth, and advance the UK’s key industrial sectors, especially life sciences, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, biotech, AI and other future-facing industries under the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.

Key components of the deal

Here are some of the flagship commitments:

• Blackstone pledged around £100 billion over the next decade into the UK.
• Prologis will invest £3.9 billion, including use in the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and upgrading Daventry Rail Freight Terminal.
• Palantir agreed to invest up to £1.5 billion to help make the UK a defence innovation leader and create up to 350 jobs.
• Amentum will invest £150 million, creating over 3,000 jobs across areas like Glasgow, the Midlands and Warrington.
• Boeing committed to converting two 737 aircraft in Birmingham for the USAF, bringing about 150 high-skilled jobs.
• STAX, a US engineering firm, will commit around £37 million to expand UK operations, especially in emissions-reducing technology at ports.

Where the jobs and benefits are headed

The investment is forecast to create more than 7,600 high-quality jobs throughout the UK, covering not just London and the South East, but also Belfast, Glasgow, the Midlands and the North East. It includes major commitments in research and development and support for start-ups, particularly in biotech, AI and clean energy sectors.

Why it matters

This is the biggest commercial investment package ever secured during a UK state visit. It signals confidence from US firms in the UK’s economic strategy and global competitiveness. For business, tax, infrastructure, jobs, and innovation policy, it gives strong backing to the government’s plans.

For many business owners, a vehicle is an essential tool. Whether it is for visiting clients, delivering goods, or simply keeping things moving, choosing how to finance a vehicle can have a big impact on cash flow and tax planning. There are several routes to consider, each with its own advantages.

Buying outright

The simplest option is to purchase the vehicle in full. This means your business owns it from day one. Buying outright avoids ongoing finance costs, but it does tie up capital. The tax advantage is that you may be able to claim capital allowances on the cost, reducing taxable profits. Cars with low CO₂ emissions attract more generous allowances, while commercial vehicles such as vans can often qualify for the full Annual Investment Allowance.

Hire purchase

Hire purchase spreads the cost of the vehicle over a fixed term. You make monthly instalments and become the legal owner once the final payment is made. Interest will be payable, but this option gives certainty over repayments and allows you to claim capital allowances on the vehicle as if you had bought it outright.

Finance lease

With a finance lease, your business pays to use the vehicle but never actually owns it. Instead, you may be able to extend the lease at a reduced cost or sell the vehicle on behalf of the finance company and keep part of the sale proceeds. The rentals are tax deductible, which helps to reduce taxable profits.

Contract hire

Contract hire is often called leasing. You agree to use the vehicle for a set period and mileage, paying fixed monthly rentals. At the end of the agreement, the vehicle is returned. This option keeps vehicles off your balance sheet and helps with budgeting, as servicing and maintenance can be included. The rentals are usually deductible for Corporation Tax, but restrictions apply if the car has high emissions.

Personal contract purchase (PCP)

Some directors use PCP agreements through the company. These combine monthly payments with the option to buy the vehicle at the end for a lump sum. The tax treatment is similar to hire purchase if the business owns the agreement, but careful thought is needed if it is held personally.

Final thought

There is no one best option. The right choice depends on cash flow, tax position, and how long you intend to keep the vehicle. Speaking with your accountant before committing can ensure the vehicle is financed in the most efficient way for your business.